Large size vertical filing means



Jan. Y2, 194). l v DE |s|l E 2,185,763 LARGE SIZE VERTICAL FILINGVMENSFiled Jan. .2, 1937 4'Shets-Sheet l fw l Jan. 2, 1940.

H. l.. DE LlsLE A 'Y 2,185,763

n LARGE SIZE VERTICAL FILING MEANS Filed Jan. 2, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 2Filed Jan. 2. 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIJ. l I Il.

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LARGE SIZE VERTICAL ,FILING MEANS Filed Jan. 2, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 4Patented Jan. `2, 1940 mais IARGIE SIZE VERTICAL FILING MEANS Harold L.De Lisle, Two Rivers, Wis.

Application January 2,

' 5 claims.

This invention relates to large size vertical filing means moreparticularly for drafting room equipment and the ling in vertical,unfolded position of drawings, tracings, prints, and the like.

Heretofore, these have been filed in open-top boxes, with or withoutcovers. Since the average drawing, tracing or print led in this manneris about twenty-four inches by thirty-six inches and the iile, whenloaded, weighs frequently as much as five hundred pounds, it will beappreciated that such boxes take up considerable floor space andcannotbe readily moved around.

For the reason that the tops of the boxes must remain accessible, theboxes must remain on the floor of the oiiiceor drafting room, the spacethereabove being wasted.

Conservation of oor space is becoming more and more of a factor ofimportance and this heretofore known method is becoming increasinglycostly, as well as subjecting the files to dust, and fire and waterhazard, since even if a cover is provided for the box, the inconvenienceof raising and lowering it encourages the leaving of the le exposed, atleast for the greater part of the day. o

The present invention aims to provide means for housing the vertical lein the form of a drawer in a casing, while still permitting readyaccessibility and affording utilization of the space lon the top surfaceor above the casing, for other purposes, and particularly activepurposes such as other current files of various kinds.

been increased substantially, and the oor cost.

rental per sheet materially reduced, in addition to the many otheradvantages enjoyed.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing an illustrative embodiment, in which- Figure l is aperspective view showing a comparison between an old style le and thepresent Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation ofthe structure of thepresent invention;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the struclture of Fig. 1 taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

1937, serial No. '118,729'y (ci. 45-7) showingin broken lines the drawerpartiallyy a' open;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 3 but looking inthe oppositedirection along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

'Figure 5 is an enlarged detail, partially in section along the line 5 5of Fig. 42;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view of the control valve, taken ontheline 6 6 of Fig. 8;v

Figure 1 is a section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective View, somewhat diagrammatic, of the air systemin separated relation. y

Referring in detail tothe drawings,'1 have shown at I3 and I4 two lingunits made in accordance with the present invention. It will be readilyseen that the space above theold style ling box must be left accessibleand is therefore of no further use lfor filing or storage space,

while the space above the units I3 and I4, in

accordance with the present invention, may be utilized for theadditional filing facilities represented by the group of ling cabinetsI5 and I6, each respectively disposed above vthe units `I3 and I4.

` In this instance, the base for each of the group of ling cabinets I5and I6 is constituted by the casing I1, one of the units of the presentinvention. In the unit I3, the drawer I8 is shown partially withdrawnfroml the casing, that is,l

open, and in the unit IIB the drawer is shown retracted into the casing,that is, closed. It willr walls 2l, top wall 22 Aand rear wall 23, thefront of the casing being open for the reception of the ist,l

space 28 between the bottom of the drawer and the bottom of the casing,which space is occupied by antifriction means through the intermediationof which the drawer is movably supported in the casing. A dependentportion 29 for the front wall of the drawer may at least partiallyconceal the roller mechanism next described.

Extending from front to rear, underneath the drawer and aixed thereto,adjacent each side thereof are the runners 3|), which are convenientlyof irregular channel formation and upon which the drawer rests throughthe intermediation of transverse channel reinforcements 3|. To providean integral structure, the channels 3| may be welded to the bottom 24 ofthe drawer running from side to side thereof and spaced apart from frontto rear of the drawer, and the channeled runners 30 welded cross-wise tothechannels 3|. For this purpose, these channeled parts havehorizontally extending ilanges 32, one each of which along the outeredge of the drawer as at 33 is extended to round the lower side cornerof the drawer where it may be welded for further security.

In the present embodiment, a roller truck 34 extends beneath each of therunners 38 and supports the runners 3U (and thus the drawer)v on therollers 35 which may be secured in pairs on axles 36 journaled in theside walls of the truck 34. Rollers 35 are therefore in directfrictional contact with the runners 30 and the bottom 28 of the casing.To maintain` the truck in lateral position, while permitting it to moverelatively to the drawer and casing, each runner 36 may have securedalong its bottom an inverted channel member 31 which receives with asnug sliding fit a keeper bar 38 secured longitudinally along the upperface of the truck 34. Similarly, along the floor of the casing is achannel member 39 which is slidingly embraced by the sides of the truck,the truck itself being again of inverted channel formation.

On their inner faces the runners 30 are desirably offset as at 4D toprovide a rest surface for the yoke 4| xedly secured to the runner andon which is axled a roller wheel 42 of somewhat larger diameter than therollers 35. Thus as the drawer is withdrawn from the casing, the rollers35 which are thus of the so-called progressive type, will partiallyfollow the outward movement of the drawer on the tracks I9, moving abouthalf of the distance traveled by the drawer but suiciently to affordadequate support for the drawer in its outermost open position. Furthersupport for the drawer in this position is also provided by the rollerwheels 42, which move outwardly the same distance as the drawer sincethey are on an axis fixed with respect to the drawer. Upon retraction ofthe drawer to close it, the rollers 35 will move correspondinglyinwardly back to their original position. So that the entire rollersupport will be offset somewhat rearwardly of the drawer, it desirablyterminates as at 43 short of the front wall 21 of the drawer but mayextend as at 44 beyond the rear wall 26. Thus the rollers are clear ofthe feet of the operator,

for example.

I will now describe a preferred form of power mechanism for operatingthe drawer. Mounted centrally along the bottom of the casing between therunners 30 is fixed an air cylinder 46 which may be supported bypedestal members 45 and 45a secuied to the casing, and to which thecylclusive of the piston rod 49 of suicient length to extend through thecylinder 46 at its forward end, when the piston 48 is almost at the rearend of the cylinder. At its forward end, the piston rod 49 is anchoredto the depending front wall 29 of the drawer as by a nut 50 and cap nut50a. At the forward end of the cylinder the cylinder head 5|accommodates the packing gland 52 through which the piston rod 49 moves.An internal shoulder 5|a. on the cylinder head may limit outwardmovement of the piston and therefore the drawer I8 in the casing. Atthis forward end also, the cylinder head 5| connects with the cylinder,through a nipple 53, the air pipe 54 which communicates with one branch55 of a four-way valve 56. At its rear end, the cylinder head 51connects with the cylinder, through a nipple 58, an air pipe 59 whichcommunicates with the branch 66 of the valve 56. A third branch 6| ofthe valve is in communication, by means of the pipes 62 and 63, with asupply of air under pressure which may be provided by any conventionalmeans not here necessary to be described. Still a fourth branch 64 ofthe valve provides an adjustable escapement for the air. As here shownthis includes a needle relief valve shown in detail in Fig. 7. Forexample, passage for the escaping air through the ports 65, 66 iscontrolled by the screw needle 61 which in turn may be manuallycontrolled by the rod 68 integral therewith and extending to the frontface of the casing as at 69, where it may terminate in the screw headwhich may be adjusted as desired.

Similarly, an air supply valve 10, between the pipes 63 and 62, may becontrolled by a rod 1| terminating at the outer .face of the casing asat 12 and similarly adjustable.

The four-way valve 56 is shown in detailed cross-section in Fig. 6 andthe valve proper, as is well known with respect to mechanisms of thistype, includes a plug cylinder 13 through which pass thenon-communicating ducts 14, 15. Upon rotation of the plug cylinder 13,the duct 14 is adapted to place in communication either the ports 16 and11 for the pipes 62 and 59 respectively, or the ports 16 and 18 for thepipes 62 and 54 respectively. Similarly the duct 15 is adapted to placein communication either the ports 18, 19 for the pipe 54 and escape port65 respectively, or the ports 11, 19 for the pipe 59 and escape port 65respectively.

For operating the plug cylinder 13, it may have xed thereto ahollowcontrol member of non-circular formation, here shown square, toreceive the square rod 8| telescopically but with a sliding fit. The rod8| is fixed to a valve lever 62 carried on the right-hand upper cornerof the front wall 21 of the drawer I8. By means of this telescopicarrangement, the valve lever 82 is always operatively connected with theplug cylinder 13 whether the drawer be in its innermost or outermostpositions, the telescoping interengagement of the member 80 and rod 8|being of suicient extent to accommodate any normal movement of thedrawer. The valve 56 and its associated pipes is conveniently supportedby an L-shape bracket 83 secured to the rear wall 23 of the casinginalignment with the valve lever 82 on the drawer.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When it is desired to open the drawer, the valve lever 82 is moveddownwardly from the position shown on the closed drawer in Fig. 1 tothat shown on the open drawer. This places the pipes 62 and 59 incommunication so that the e, rsa-16a air forces the piston '548'outwardly, an,d',}moving withit, the'drawer'l. Ati this timethe-'pipe'54 and escape port 65 are injcommunication andthe air at theforward end ofthe-cylinder escapes past the needle valve '61. 'Byregulating this needle valve, the movement of the drawer may be mademore or less'rapid, and at the same time an air cushion is providedwhich progressively slows the drawer down as it approaches the end of`its outer movement as limited'by movement of the piston 48 in thecylinder-when it contacts the shoulder 5| a or some other suitable stopmeans. Even when the piston reaches theend of its forward movement,however, rand continuously until reversal of the valve lever 82, thepiston is desirably under pressure sothat the dra-wer has no tendency'toroll back until so actuated by the operator.

When it is desired to close the drawer the valve lever is moved upwardlyagain, placing the pipes G2 and 54 in communication so that the pistonis retracted, drawing with it the drawer. At this time also, the pipe59'and escape port 65 are in communication so that a similar air cushionis provided on the return movement of the drawer.

Should the air supply fail for any reason, it is of course desirabletobe able to open the drawers by hand and for this purpose I have showna heavy bail-like handle 84 extending nearly the entire width of thedrawer so that it may be conveniently grasped by say two persons whosecombined strength may be necessary to move the drawer by hand. In thisoperation, it may be desirable, in order to avoid the air cushionalready referred to and permit easier hand operation-to move the valvelever 82 to just the opposite respective positions which would be usedfor compressed air operation of the drawer. Thus it will` be seen thatby placing the pipes 62 and 54 in communication when hand operation isresorted to, an air cushion at the forward end of the cylinder will beavoided. Again upon closing the drawer by hand, by placing the pipes 59and G2 in communication an air cushion at the rear end of the cylinderwill be avoided.

The handle 84 is desirably swingingly mounted on the front wall 21 ofthe drawer and in this instance its ends each are received between ahifurcated bracket 86, the bifurcations of which have vertical elongatedslots 8T,v a pair of trunnions 88 on the handle playing in these slots.When the handle is not in use, by this last menfinned connection it maybe not only swung upwardly toward the face of the drawer but also may bemoved rectilinearly upwardly a sufficient distance to pass onto thehooks 89 carried along the upper edge of the drawer where it will remainuntil removed by first being lifted rectilinearly upwardly and thenswuny forwardly and downwardly.

Reverting now to the representative contents of the drawer I8 typied bythe vertically disposed flat unfolded drawings, tracings, or blue prints|2, Fig. 4 illustrates conventional examples of this type of verticalfiling. As is well known in the art and as will be very briey pointedout, the interior of the drawer is divided into a plurality ofcompartments disposed from front to rear of the drawer and defined bythe spaces between two adjoining oppositely spring-pressed flexiblestrips 99 which hang vertically in the drawer on cross-wise hangers 9|.There may be three or four pairs of these strips supported by one of thehangers 9| and spaced apart crosswise ofrthe drawer. .The hanger alsosupports a center strip .92 between a lpair of stripsjl99 and betweenthe strips 90 are located coil springs 93 which press apart the strips98 vof the same hanger. Each of the hangers 9| may be of foldedformation to clampthe'center strip 92 and two of thek flexible strips 90together at their tops while permitting the strips 99 to be pressedapart therebelow. While the strips 99 advantageously hang freely withinthe drawer except as infiuenced by the springs 93 and the drawings l2,the center strips themselves are preferably anchored tothe bottom of thedrawer as at 94.

For supporting the hangers 9|, these may terminate at the sidesof thedrawer in flanges 95 Awhich 'rest'upon a ledge 96 which extends alongthe side of the drawer interior. Therefter aplate 91 slotted as at 98 topass over the hangers may be 'spot welded as at 99 to the drawerr sides.The drawings l2 may be enclosed by a large folder |2a of heavy paper orthe like, for protection.

`As best shown in Fig. 4, when reference isy madevto one of the drawings2, the group of these drawings vcontaining the one wanted is pulledup'and'fanned out by dropping some of the drawings rearwardly and so-meforwardly as shown in dotted lines at |88 and IDI, the drawing wantedbeing conveniently the then uppermost drawing in the group IUI. It maynot be necessary in every case to remove the drawing entirely from thefile, this being avoided wherever possible while still permittingobservation of or reference to what the drawing contains. In such cases,the bail-like handle 84 may be made to serve the function of a rest forthe drawing coo-perating with the drawer itself, when the drawings arein the farmed out position referred to. For this purpose the extensions|82 of the lower ends of the handle arms are extended beyond thetrunnions 88 so that when the handle is inclined forwardly as shown inbroken lines in Fig. 4, these extensions, as best shown in Fig. 5, maybe received in notches |03 in the rear wall of brackets 86 whichcooperate with the stop |94 extending between the bifurcations of thebracket, to support the handle in this position. An enlargement of theslots 81 laterally together with an inclined surface |05l in these slotspermits the handle to be canted into and out of inclined position, whilebeing maintained in stable inclined position for supporting the drawingsas mentioned.

For the purpose of providing ample clearance between the sides of thedrawer and the casing margin, the drawer sides are desirably spacedinwardly from the outermost side edges |06 of the front `face 21 of thedrawer. This also permits the drawer to clear a bracket 80acarried onthe inner side face of the casing to support the air valve controlmember 89 at its forward end. The inwardly offset portion |91' whichprovides the ledge 98, also contributes still further to this necessaryclearance for the moving parts.

Manifestly, the invention is not limited to details of constructiondescribed for purposes of illustration. Furthermore, it is not necessarythat all features of the invention be used conjointly, as variouscombinations and subcombinations may be advantageously employed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In filing means of the class described embodying heavy large sizefiling equipment, the combination with a drawer casing adapted to reston the door of an oiiice or the like, of a relatively heavy large drawerreceived in said casing and adapted to be moved in and out thereof, anda permanent track co-planar with the oor of said casing projecting fromsaid casing beneath said drawer in its withdrawn position wherein thedrawer is operated by compressed air mechanism and carries a valve levermovable with the drawer for manually controlling said mechanism.

2. In filing means of the class described embodying heavy large sizefiling equipment, the combination with a drawer casing adapted to reston the floor of an oice or the like, of a relatively heavy large drawerreceived in said casing and adapted to be moved in and out thereof, anda permanent track co-planar with the floor of said casing projectingfrom said casing beneath said drawer in its withdrawn position whereinthe drawe-r is operated by compressed air mechanism and carries a valvelever movable with the drawer for manually controlling said mechanism,and wherein the valve lever is connected with a pair of valve controlmembers keyed to rotate together but relatively slidable longitudinally,one of which members is carried by the casing and the other of which iscarried by the drawer.

3. In filing means of the class described, the combination of a casing,a drawer movable in the casing, a cylinder mounted on the casing, a.piston therein connected with the drawer mechanism for admittingcompressed air selectively to opposite ends of said cylinder formechanically opening and closing the drawer, and a valve lever carriedby and movable with the drawer for controlling said mechanism.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the casing carries a four-way Valvecontrolled by said lever and air pipes communicate with opposite sidesof said valve and with the opposite ends of said cylinder, and whereintelescoping members of non-circular cross-section respectively connectwith said valve and said lever.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein the casing carries a four-way valvecontrolled by said lever and air pipes communicate with opposite sidesof said valve and with the opposite ends of said cylinder, wherein saidValve has an inlet duct and an outlet duct oppositely disposed betweensaid pipes, -and wherein needle valves control the passage through saidducts, said needle valves being connected with adjustment rods carriedby the front of the casing.

HAROLD L. DE LISLE.

